The International Year of the Salmon announced earlier today is a unique opportunity to learn more about the five species of wild salmon of B.C.’s coast, and protect them through concrete action and science.

First Nations leaders and people gathered to speak about the importance of salmon farming and send a message to the foreign activists with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which has harassed salmon farms for the last two summers.

The Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF)’s recommendation B.C.’s salmon farmers be forced to move to closed-containment farming immediately, would only result in more pressure being put on wild Pacific salmon stocks while effectively shutting down an industry that supports more than 6,600 jobs in rural coastal communities.

The report out today into the effects of PRV on wild salmon led by Dr. Kristina Miller is problematic, and should be looked at with a critical eye in the context of the extensive science done on this topic.

The BC Salmon Farmers Association agrees with many of the recommendations in the B.C MAACFA report released today, and looks forward to working with all levels of government, coastal communities, and First Nations to draw upon the report to continue evolving B.C’s $1.5-billion salmon aquaculture industry.